Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - On the day she was honored for her spectacular career, Rita Welsh (Collegeville, Pa.) tallied a team-high nine kills and hit .318 in her final match as a member of the Manhattan College volleyball team. It wasn't enough, however, as Siena (15-12, 13-5 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) hit .336 (51 kills, 14 errors, 110 attempts) in the match to post a 25-13, 26-24, 25-16 victory over the Lady Jaspers (8-23, 3-15 MAAC) at Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
Manhattan scored the first three points of the match, but Siena quickly responded with a 9-2 run to take a 9-5 advantage. The Lady Jaspers claimed the next two points to get back within two at 9-7. After a kill by Diane Strutner (San Jose, Calif.) made it 12-10 in favor of the Saints, Siena ended the set by scoring 13 of the final 16 points to claim a 25-13 set win.
The second set was much more closely contested, as it featured six ties and two lead changes. After Manhattan opened up an early 6-2 lead, the Saints responded with four straight points to tie it at 6-6. The Lady Jaspers scored the next three points to go up 9-6 before Siena climbed back to force a 14-14 tie. Manhattan regained the lead on a kill by Jamie Collareta (Islip Terrace, N.Y.), but Siena responded with a 7-1 run to go back in front, 21-16. Then it was Manhattan's turn to battle back. The Lady Jaspers scored the next three points to make it 21-19, then Siena scored the next two to push its lead back to four points, 23-19. After the Saints reached set point at 24-20, Manhattan fought off four opportunites, and tied the score at 24-24 on a kill by Kelsey Huntoon (Monroe, Mich.). A kill by Audrey Bobo brought Siena to set point once again, and this time the Saints finished it out, 26-24, on a kill by Burgandy McCurty. Each team hit well in the second set. Manhattan hit .316 (15-3-38) in the set and Siena hit .368 (18-4-38).
Siena took an early 3-1 lead in the third set, but Manhattan rallied for the next three points to go in front 4-3. After the Saints claimed the next three points to regain a 6-4 advantage, the Lady Jaspers again fought back to tie it at 7-7. However, Siena claimed the next point to begin a 7-0 run and open up a 14-7 advantage. The Lady Jaspers responded with three straight points to get back within 14-10 before the Saints went on a 10-4 spurt to reach match point. Manhattan fought off two match points before Siena claimed the third set, 25-16, to finish off a 3-0 sweep in the match. The Saints continued their impressive hitting in the third set, hitting .375 (19-4-40) as a unit.
Strutner and Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) each tallied seven kills for the Lady Jaspers, while Strutner added a team-high 10 digs. Julie Bies (Massapequa, N.Y.) recorded eight digs and Casey Tidwell (Redlands, Calif.) finished with four blocks for Manhattan. Collareta dished out 25 assists to go along with three kills and four digs. Manhattan hit .139 (31-15-115) as a team.
Audrey Bobo registered a match-high 17 kills on .455 hitting to lead the Saints. She just missed a double-double with nine kills. Sarah Silverston had 12 kills and hit .435, while McCurty, the NCAA leader in kills, tallied 12 kills on .310 hitting. Lesli Akeo posted a match-high 17 digs and Kau'i Robello tallied a double-double with 42 assists and 10 digs, as the Saints outdug the Lady Jaspers 56-36.
Welsh is the only departing senior on the Manhattan roster. The Lady Jaspers return 12 players, including six starters, in 2010.
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